What is scleroderma?

Scleroderma is typically described as a rheumatic disease of the connective tissues. It is a chronic, degenerative disorder accompanied by widespread vascular deterioration and tissue loss. Scleroderma can be disfiguring, debilitating and deadly. In the most serious cases, the disease causes severe damage and severe complications for the body’s digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.

Pain, ranging in severity from uncomfortable to debilitating, is a common characteristic of the disease. Other common symptoms can include, but are not limited to the following:

General fatigue

Joint or bone aching

Stiffness of hands and feet

Skin discoloration

Swallowing difficulties

Skin thickening or tightness

Dry mucus membranes

Calcium deposits under the skin

Unexplained ulcers on fingers or toes

Raynaud’s phenomenon (described below)

Scleroderma is not a single disease, but a set of related disorders involving a similar set of symptoms. This makes a concise definition – and diagnosis – difficult. All forms of scleroderma do, however, share the basic characteristics of fibrosis (an excessive accumulation of tissue) and inflammation.

Recent research suggests that scleroderma is not only a rheumatic disease, but also has a blood vessel component. Inflammation in the body’s blood vessels leads to their narrowing. Further damage from the inflammation and impact of the increased blood pressure can lead to destruction of smaller arteries. As a result, or perhaps as a parallel disease process, fibrosis takes place. This process can have devastating implications and the heart and lungs can suffer a significant loss in efficiency. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in scleroderma patients.

The first documented account of scleroderma was by Dr. Carlo Curzio of Naples in 1754, who described his patient as a 17-year-old Neapolitan woman afflicted by a disease of “extraordinary nature.” “Her complaint,” wrote Dr. Curzio, “was an excessive tension and hardness of her skin over all her body, by which she found herself so bound and straightened that she could hardly move her limbs.” Nor could she fully close her eyelids or open her mouth, due to “the firmness of the skin and membrane.”

The fibrosis witnessed by Dr. Curzio is the most noticeable feature of the disease. In fact, the word scleroderma is Greek for “hard skin,” although it is much more than that, often affecting the internal organs with life-threatening consequences.

Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from the various types of scleroderma, and as many as 10,000 patients die every year from the most serious form of the disease. Eighty percent of those afflicted with the disease are women, though scleroderma also strikes men and children across all ages and ethnic boundaries. Unfortunately, the disease typically strikes in the prime of patients’ lives, when they are 30-50 years old.

The cause of scleroderma is unknown. It is not contagious and it is rare for direct family members to manifest the disease. However, there is evidence of a genetic predisposition to scleroderma. Some scleroderma cases have been linked to environmental factors such as silica dust, organic solvents, and certain drugs, though the cause for most cases of scleroderma is still not known.

Significant progress has been made in managing the symptoms and some of the most serious complication of scleroderma, so that people with the disease are living longer, fuller lives. Still, no therapies yet exist to halt or reverse the disease process. Patients continue to experience pain, deterioration and debilitation – and many patients die.

The Scleroderma Research Foundation is devoting every possible resource to solving the mysteries of scleroderma. A collaborative approach to research is opening doors to therapeutic development and ultimately, a cure.

Types of scleroderma

There are two major types of scleroderma—localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma affects only the skin and is, generally, not as destructive or debilitating as systemic scleroderma, which is a multi-system disease often involving the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, kidneys and other major organs.

Localized scleroderma

Systemic scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)

Localized morphea

Limited systemic sclerosis

Generalized morphea

Diffuse systemic sclerosis

Linear scleroderma

Sine sclerosis

Localized Scleroderma

The skin is typically the only organ involved in localized scleroderma. In extreme cases, however, the muscle below is also affected by a hardening of the tissues. Because internal organs are not affected by localized scleroderma, it is not a life-threatening illness and can be considered a less serious health threat than other forms of the disease. Symptoms of localized scleroderma will, in many cases, improve or go away on their own over time, but there is frequently permanent damage in the form of residual scar tissue. For some patients, localized scleroderma can be disfiguring and painful. In rare cases, it can be disabling. There are three major sub-types of localized scleroderma:

Localized Morphea

Morphea (mor-FEE-ah) is derived from the Greek word “morfi,” meaning shape or structure. With localized morphea, the body shows one or several patches of scleroderma. Symptoms include reddish patches of inflamed and discolored skin, usually on the chest or back, but sometimes on the face, arms and legs. These oval-shaped patches are limited to certain areas on the body and range in size from a half-inch to approximately 12 inches in diameter. Localized morphea is further pronounced by the absence of sweat glands and very little, if any, hair growth in affected areas.

Generalized Morphea

Generalized morphea is a more severe, although less common, condition than localized morphea. Large dark patches of thick, tight skin form on the trunk, arms and legs, and can be so extensive that they merge into one another. These widespread plaques closely resemble oversized patches of localized morphea, but are usually ivory-colored and sometimes have a distinct violet-colored border. Patients with generalized morphea do not suffer from the internal life-threatening features of systemic sclerosis, but the disease can result in severe scars and physical disability.

Generalized morphea has been known to appear on areas of the skin treated by radiation therapy.

In many cases, both localized and generalized morphea improve spontaneously over time (typically 3 through 5 years); however, patients are often left with patches of darkened or discolored skin and, in rare cases, muscle damage.

Linear Scleroderma

Linear scleroderma, also known as bilateral scleroderma, is characterized by a highly visible band or bands of thick, tight skin on the arms, legs, chest, stomach, back, buttocks or face. It is often considered a pediatric disease as it usually manifests itself within the first 10 years of life.

When affecting a limb, linear scleroderma can cause arms and legs to develop at noticeably different rates. It is not uncommon for the disease to extend down to the bones and muscles underneath it, thus damaging their structure, limiting motion of affected joints, and interfering with normal growth.

When linear scleroderma occurs on the face, it is often referred to as en coup de saber (en-KOO-de-sob), a French term for “a strike of the sword,” due to its appearance. Linear scleroderma may be disfiguring, but is not life threatening and rarely progresses to systemic scleroderma.

Systemic Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

Systemic scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is a multi-system disease with numerous manifestations that can affect not only the skin, but also underlying blood vessels, muscles and joints, as well as the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs and heart. There are two subsets of systemic scleroderma, limited and diffuse – both are characterized by vascular injury, as well as severe inflammation and fibrosis.

Systemic scleroderma causes a loss of circulation that can result in painful skin ulcers occurring on fingers, toes and other extremities. Joint pain caused by inflammation and swelling can be chronic. Loss of flexibility in the hands and severe skin tightening can impair the use of fingers and toes. The skin of the face may also tighten and harden, especially around the mouth, making eating and drinking difficult.

Systemic scleroderma (both limited and diffuse) is the most dangerous form of the disease and the primary focus of research funded by the Scleroderma Research Foundation.

It is estimated that approximately 90% of systemic scleroderma patients experience Raynaud’s (ray-NOHZ) phenomenon as a primary symptom. Named after the French physician who discovered it more than a century ago, Raynaud’s is a condition in which the small blood vessels of the hands and, sometimes, feet contract in response to cold or stress. The process makes the hands/feet extremely sensitive to cold and causes their pigmentation to blanch from white to blue. As blood flow returns, they become red. With scleroderma patients, tissues in fingertips, especially the capillaries, may suffer damage. This damage can lead to ulcers, scars, or, in severe cases, gangrene.

It should be noted that Raynaud’s phenomenon is quite common, affecting approximately 1 of every 20 people in the United States. Research suggests that only 5 – 20% of people with Raynaud’s phenomenon will go on to develop a form of systemic scleroderma.

Limited Scleroderma

Systemic limited scleroderma affects approximately two-thirds of the systemic population. Although the progression is typically more slow-moving, the disease can still be life-threatening. It is imperative to treat these symptoms and carefully monitor for end-organ damage. Chronic pain, loss of mobility and disfigurement are possible. There is also the potential for serious complications related to the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as pulmonary complications leading in some cases to dangerously high blood pressure. Systemic-limited scleroderma is often referred to as CREST, an acronym for several of the most prominent symptoms:

Calcinosis

Hard, painful calcium deposits in the skin

Raynaud’s phenomenon

Blanching of feet and hands from white, to blue to red in response to cold or stress

Esophageal dysfunction

Problems with swallowing caused by internal scarring. The scarring is caused by the collagen build-up.

Sclerodactyly

Tightening of the skin on the fingers and toes, progressing to the hands and face, and sometimes the neck and feet

Telangiecstasia

Small red spots on the fingers, palms, forearms, face and lips

Diffuse Scleroderma

Diffuse scleroderma is typically characterized by an early internal inflammatory phase. Also, unlike limited scleroderma, the onset of symptoms that significantly impact quality of life can be rapid and severe. In most cases of diffuse scleroderma, there is extensive skin fibrosis covering large parts of the body and extremities. Even cases without significant skin involvement can be life-threatening, depending on the type and magnitude of organ damage.

Problems of the digestive tract can make eating, nutrient absorption and elimination difficult. The most serious complications of diffuse scleroderma involve the kidneys, lungs and heart and may include renal failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and the potential for heart failure. PAH is the leading cause of death among scleroderma patients.

People with diffuse scleroderma are often chronically tired, have a diminished appetite, show weight loss, and suffer from joint swelling and pain. Changes in the skin can include swelling, tightening and chronic itchiness.

It is not uncommon for people with diffuse scleroderma to enter a phase where disease progression stabilizes for varying lengths of time. This stabilizing phase often begins within three to five years after onset and can last for varying amounts of time.

As will all forms of the disease, there is no cure for diffuse scleroderma. Although the disease may continue to lie dormant for several years, there can be no certainty as to whether symptoms will improve, remain stagnate or worsen.

Early diagnosis, symptomatic treatment and frequent visits to a physician for monitoring are critically important for diffuse scleroderma patients.

Sine Sclerosis

Sine (SEEN-ay) sclerosis is a term used by many physicians to describe systemic scleroderma without the characteristic skin involvement. In fact, the word “sine” is Latin for “without.” Patients with sine sclerosis may have symptoms of either limited or diffuse scleroderma, causing damage to the internal organs. Because there are no external manifestations of the disease, it can be difficult to diagnose. As with other forms of systemic sclerosis, however, the presence of Raynaud’s phenomenon and positive autoantibodies can be useful indicators. Complications of the internal organ systems can be serious and often life threatening.

Research News

A new technology reveals that immune system genes switch on and off differently in women and men, and the source of that variation is not primarily in the DNA.A new technology for studying the human body’s vast system for toggling genes on and off reveals that genes associated with the immune system toggle more frequently, and those same genes operate differently in women and men. Some genes are virtually always on, like the clock light on a microwave; others sit unused for years at a time, like some regrettable appliance you bought, stuffed into the back of the closet and forgot. Some genes can be always on in one person and always off in another. A minority of genes switch on and off, like a favorite cell phone app. A new technology, which makes it possible to study the molecules that regulate all of that switching in living people as they go about their lives, has revealed some intriguing surprises, according to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.

ROME (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS) – Updated expert recommendations from the European League Against Rheumatism for the treatment of systemic sclerosis will focus on several new treatment options, although the use of biologic agents is not included in detail because there are still too few data on these drugs to give firm guidance on their use. The EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR) recommendations for the treatment of scleroderma were first published 6 years ago ( Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2009;68:620-8 ) and considered data through December 2006. “Since then, a number of new drugs have become available and new and important information has been published concerning treatments already known before,” said Dr. Otylia Kowal-Bielecka of the Medical University of Bialystok, Poland, who discussed some of the main highlights of the revised recommendations (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2015;74:90-1) at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

BACKGROUND. TGF-β has potent profibrotic activity in vitro and has long been implicated in systemic sclerosis (SSc), as expression of TGF-β–regulated genes is increased in the skin and lungs of patients with SSc. Therefore, inhibition of TGF-β may benefit these patients. METHODS. Patients with early, diffuse cutaneous SSc were enrolled in an open-label trial of fresolimumab, a high-affinity neutralizing antibody that targets all 3 TGF-β isoforms. Seven patients received two 1 mg/kg doses of fresolimumab, and eight patients received one 5 mg/kg dose of fresolimumab. Serial mid-forearm skin biopsies, performed before and after treatment, were analyzed for expression of the TGF-β–regulated biomarker genes thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) and cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) and stained for myofibroblasts. Clinical skin disease was assessed using the modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS).

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status to Actemra® (tocilizumab) for systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma.1 This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of medicines with early signals of potential clinical benefit in serious diseases and to help ensure patients have access to them as soon as possible. Genentech has also initiated a Phase III study in systemic sclerosis (NCT02453256), a disease for which there are inadequate treatment options.3,4

News for Patients

A new technology reveals that immune system genes switch on and off differently in women and men, and the source of that variation is not primarily in the DNA.A new technology for studying the human body’s vast system for toggling genes on and off reveals that genes associated with the immune system toggle more frequently, and those same genes operate differently in women and men. Some genes are virtually always on, like the clock light on a microwave; others sit unused for years at a time, like some regrettable appliance you bought, stuffed into the back of the closet and forgot. Some genes can be always on in one person and always off in another. A minority of genes switch on and off, like a favorite cell phone app. A new technology, which makes it possible to study the molecules that regulate all of that switching in living people as they go about their lives, has revealed some intriguing surprises, according to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may have a three times greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – including potentially deadly clots in the lungs – and an increased risk in the first year after a diagnosis, according to a large population database study from Canada. The study of 1,245 SSc patients (83% female, mean age 56 years old),and 12,670 matched controls in British Columbia (BC), attributes the increased risk to vascular damage from SSc-related fibrosis that causes endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulability due to inflammation.

Patients with systemic sclerosis have a distinct colonic microbiome that might contribute to clinical manifestations of the disease, according to a new study. "I see scleroderma patients exclusively in my practice, and gastrointestinal symptoms are sometimes the number one complaint," said Elizabeth Volkmann, MD, from the University of California at Los Angeles. "Patients often don't even feel comfortable disclosing these symptoms because they are so personal."

t’s a busy week for Genentech and systemic sclerosis researchers. First, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation status to tocilizumab (Actemra) for treating patients with systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma.1 The designation should expedite the development and review of tocilizumab for this rare condition. Second, data from the phase 2 study that led to the Breakthrough Designation is being presented at EULAR 2015 this week as well. The developers of tocilizumab, Genentech also announced they have begun a phase 3 study to test the safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with systemic sclerosis.

ROME (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS) – Updated expert recommendations from the European League Against Rheumatism for the treatment of systemic sclerosis will focus on several new treatment options, although the use of biologic agents is not included in detail because there are still too few data on these drugs to give firm guidance on their use. The EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR) recommendations for the treatment of scleroderma were first published 6 years ago ( Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2009;68:620-8 ) and considered data through December 2006. “Since then, a number of new drugs have become available and new and important information has been published concerning treatments already known before,” said Dr. Otylia Kowal-Bielecka of the Medical University of Bialystok, Poland, who discussed some of the main highlights of the revised recommendations (Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2015;74:90-1) at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

Ways to Give

There are many ways that you can support the work of the Scleroderma Research Foundation. We are grateful for your commitment to helping the SRF fund research that will result in improved therapies and, ultimately, a cure.

The Scleroderma Research Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to fund and facilitate the most promising medical research aimed at improved therapies and, ultimately, a cure for scleroderma. Information provided by the SRF should not be considered medical advice, nor is it intended to replace consultation with a qualified physician. The SRF does not evaluate, endorse or recommend any particular medications, products, equipment or treatments. Scleroderma varies substantially from one patient to another, and treatment must be tailored by a physician for each individual case.